108 MAMMALIA— BEAR. 



When these resources fail, he will attack small quadrupeds, and even ani- 

 mals of some magnitude. As, indeed, is usual in such cases, the love of 

 flesh in him grows with the use of it. 



As the fur is of some value, the Indians are assiduous in the chase of the 

 creature which produces it. "About the end of December, from the abund- 

 ance of fruits they find in Louisiana and the neighboring countries, the 

 bears become so fat and lazy that they can scarcely run. At this time they 

 are hunted by the American Indians. The nature of the chase is generally 

 this : the bear chiefly adopts for his retreat the hollow trunk of an old cypress 

 tree, which he climbs, and then descends into the cavity from above. The 

 hunter, whose business it is to watch him into his retreat, climbs a neigh- 

 boring tree, and seats himself opposite to the hole. In one hand he holds 

 his gun, and in the other a torch, which he darts into the cavity. Frantic 

 with rage and terror, the bear makes a spring from his station ; but the 

 hunter seizes the instant of his appearance, and shoots him. 



" The pursuit of these animals is a matter of the first importance to some 

 of the Indian tribes, and is never undertaken without much ceremony. A 

 principal warrior gives a general invitation to all the hunters. This is fol- 

 lowed by a strict fast of eight days, in which they totally abstain from food ; 

 but during which the day is passed in continual song. This is done to in- 

 voke the spirits of the woods to direct the hunters to the places where there 

 are abundance of bears. They even cut the flesh in divers parts of their 

 bodies, to render the spirits more propitious. They also address tliemselves 

 to the spirits of the beasts slain in preceding chases, and implore these 

 to direct them in their dreams to an abundance of game. The chief of the 

 hunt now gives a great feast, at which no one dares to appear without first 

 bathing. At this entertainment, contrary to their usual custom, they eat 

 with great moderation. The master of the feast touches nothing ; but is 

 employed in relating to the guests ancient tales of feats in former chases ; 

 and fresh invocations to the spirits of the deceased bears conclude the whole. 



" They then sally forth, equipped as if for war, and painted black ; and 

 they proceed on their way in a direct line, not allowing rivers, marshes, or 

 any other impediment, to stop their course, and driving before them all the 

 beasts they find. When they arrive at the hunting ground, they surround 

 as large a space as they can ; and then contract their circle, searching at 

 the same time every hollow tree, and every place capable of being the 

 retreat of a bear ; and they continue the same practice till the chase is 

 expired. 



" As soon as a bear is killed, a hunter puts into his mouth a lighted pipe 

 of tobacco, and blowing into it, fills the throat with the smoke, conjuring 

 the spirit of the animal not to resent what they are about to do to its body, 

 or to render their future chases unsuccessful. As the beast makes no reply, 

 they cut out the string of the tongue, and throw it into the fire. If it 

 crackle and shrivel up (which it is almost sure to do,) they accept this as 



